Worst ways to cook Wagyu Steak (2024)

Worst ways to cook Wagyu Steak (1)

Do you do Wagyu? If you’re itching to try this amazing kind of meat, we don’t blame you. From its exquisite mouth feel to its delicious, savory flavor to its high percentage of healthy fat, Wagyu is a true culinary gem. What’s more, it’s an investment! If you burn toast, you might feel bad about it. If you ruin Wagyu, it could break your heart. In fact, we think that mistreating Wagyu beef ought to be considered a crime! Here are the worst things to do when cooking Wagyu.

  • Boiling it. Ok, so this is a bit of a joke, because who would boil a beautiful steak? It’s the quickest way to take a beautiful, perfectly marbled cut of beef and turn it into dog food. While your dogs would no doubt appreciate it, the ranchers who treat Wagyu cattle with the utmost of care would not.
  • Overcooking it. Obviously boiling it is ridiculous, but that doesn’t mean that no one has ever cooked Wagyu until it’s well done. This is a big mistake, because cooking it too long causes it to lose the beautiful, juicy fat that makes it so special. It’s not that the beef gets tough and chewy, it’s just that it’s diminished when you cook it too long.
  • Going too heavy on the seasoning. Wagyu is delicious. It doesn’t need a marinade. It barely even needs salt and pepper. Before you season your Wagyu, we suggest you prepare some without seasoning and see how you feel about it. Trust us, the luxurious flavor of this beef does not need to be masked with seasoning.
  • Cooking it when it’s wet. This actually goes for all steaks, not just Wagyu beef. If there’s extra moisture on your steak when you cook it, it will create steam and prevent you from getting the beautiful sear that makes steak so special.

So now that you know how not to cook Wagyu, how should you cook it? It’s important to thaw it completely in the refrigerator, and we suggest you bring it to room temperature by setting it out about 30 minutes before you’re ready to cook it. Next, preheat a cast iron skillet over high heat, then cut some fat from the edges of your Wagyu and use that to grease the pan a little bit. Sear it quickly on each side, cooking it no more than medium-rare. Once the steak has reached an internal temperature of no more than 130 degrees, take it off the heat and let it rest for five to ten minutes before enjoying every delicious bite.

When you’re ready to try top-quality American Wagyu Beef, you owe it to yourself to check out Triple T Ranch. Located in south Alabama, our small, family-owned-and-operated ranch is a place where practicing proven husbandry techniques ensures the health and prosperity of the herd. Our cattle are well cared-for and registered through the American Wagyu Association. Call (251)732-5160 or contact us through our website for more information.

Worst ways to cook Wagyu Steak (2024)

FAQs

What is the best method to cook Wagyu steak? ›

Cooking Method #1 – Pan Searing (Best Method)

This is the most popular way to cook Wagyu. Not only is it convenient, it produces fairly consistent results and echoes teppanyaki, the Japanese method of cooking thin strips of Wagyu in a stainless steel skillet or pan.

How not to cook Wagyu? ›

Avoid under cooking. Heat should penetrate through all marbling seams of the Wagyu steak for it to reach the optimum flavour point. It is best to have the pan heated to high before adding the steak.

Is Wagyu difficult to cook? ›

Cook it hot

The only thing a beautiful wagyu steak lacks is a brown, meaty crust, and for that, we need a good, hard sear. The hotter we are about to sear the surface, the less we'll overcook the inside of the steak, so we need a hot pan. We need our pan to be at least 425°F (218°C) to get the sear we want.

How do they get Wagyu beef so tender? ›

Originating from specific Japanese cattle breeds, Wagyu is raised under strict conditions that emphasize quality and care, resulting in a higher fat content that gives the meat a melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich taste, whereas “regular cattle” is raised primarily for their meat, which has a balanced fat content and ...

Should I grill or fry Wagyu? ›

In a perfect world, you would use both. By that I mean pan sear the steak in a cast iron pan heated on the grill. I don't recommend putting a wagyu steak directly over the flame on the grill. There's way too much fat in wagyu beef to grill it without some major flare ups.

How unhealthy is Wagyu? ›

In conclusion, Wagyu beef is a delicious and nutritious meat that can be a healthy addition to any diet when consumed in moderation. Wagyu beef is not only top-notch when it comes to its taste but it also offers numerous health benefits.

Why can't you eat a lot of Wagyu? ›

The charge labeled at Wagyu as being too fatty is usually made by people used to eating large portions of steak. It is common to eat a pound (450 g) of leaner American steak, and if you tried to eat that much Wagyu, in addition to the pain in your wallet, the fat would be very overpowering.

What are the cons of Wagyu beef? ›

Wagyu cows are forced to gain massive amounts of weight and eat feed with minimal vitamin A, which naturally occurs in the grass Wagyu aren't allowed to graze on, so that their flesh will be “marbled” with fat after they're killed.

Why is my Wagyu steak chewy? ›

One of the biggest culprits of a chewy, tough steak is overcooking. Going past your desired doneness can cause the muscle fibers to become rigid and tight, making it much harder to chew.

Why is my Wagyu so tough? ›

This is a big mistake, because cooking it too long causes it to lose the beautiful, juicy fat that makes it so special. It's not that the beef gets tough and chewy, it's just that it's diminished when you cook it too long. Going too heavy on the seasoning.

Should I slice Wagyu before cooking? ›

There's good reason to cut it thinner — A5 Wagyu is seriously rich and intense! A word of advice: Don't think of it like other steaks you're used to. The thin cuts are also easier to handle and cook.

What is the secret to Wagyu beef? ›

Thanks to the organogenetic traits of Japanese cattle, Wagyu beef boasts intense marbling – thin streaks of fat dispersed evenly throughout the meat. This translates to a more tender, flavourful cut of meat that can actually be cooked longer without getting too tough or dried out.

What makes Wagyu taste better? ›

It has a similar hearty flavor as other high-quality meats, but it also goes well beyond what can be found in the supermarket. So, why does wagyu beef taste so good? It has more marbling than other meats. This is the intramuscular fat that makes the meat so tender and juicy.

Is Wagyu or Angus better? ›

It really depends on what you're looking for in a steak! If you're looking for something luxurious with incredibly rich flavor then Wagyu beef is the way to go. If you're looking for something with a strong beef flavor, then Angus beef is the way to go.

Is Wagyu better medium or medium rare? ›

The marbling in Grass-fed Wagyu makes it very forgiving. It is at its juiciest and most tender when the fat is melted throughout the meat, so we recommend cooking it medium rare to medium.

Does Wagyu need to be cooked differently? ›

We recommend cooking your Wagyu porterhouse in a cast-iron pan. It is possible to grill Wagyu beef, however, because of the high-fat content of well-marbled wagyu, the excess fat can easily cause flare-ups. For this reason, cooking on a stovetop is a sure-fire way to ensure you get the best result.

Do you salt Wagyu steak before cooking? ›

Cooking Wagyu is easy. Keep it simple and let the rich beef flavors play a starring role. The following tips will allow you to get the most from your Wagyu craft steaks: Salt your meat either at least one hour prior to, or right before, cooking.

Why is my Wagyu steak tough? ›

Overcooking it.

This is a big mistake, because cooking it too long causes it to lose the beautiful, juicy fat that makes it so special. It's not that the beef gets tough and chewy, it's just that it's diminished when you cook it too long.

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